National Coalition gets official backing

Updated
December 13, 2012 14:07:00

The United States, European powers and Arab states have officially backed Syria's newly-formed opposition group, recognising the National Coalition as the sole representative of all Syrians. The declaration has been issued at a Friends-of-Syria meeting in Morocco, and coincides with battlefield gains by jihadists fighting president Bashar al-Assad's forces. Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, says it's the right move at the right time. It also comes amid claims that the Syrian regime has recently begun using Scud missiles and incendiary bombs against the rebels, in what the US has described as a 'vicious' and 'desperate' measure.

EMILY BOURKE: The United States, European powers and Arab states have officially backed Syria's newly-formed opposition group recognising the National Coalition as the sole representative of all Syrians.

The declaration has been issued at a Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco, and coincides with battlefield gains by jihadists fighting president Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, says it's the right move at the right time.

And it also comes amid claims that the Syrian regime has recently begun using scud missiles and incendiary bombs against the rebels, in what the US has described as a desperate and vicious measure.

Barney Porter has the story.

BARNEY PORTER: The Morocco gathering brought together representatives from 114 countries including about 60 ministers as well as the Syrian opposition, and international organisations - all united by their opposition to president Bashar al-Assad.

Not present were Russia, China and Iran which have either openly backed president Assad or blocked efforts to tighten international pressure on him.

Those at the table have now recognised the National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

The British foreign secretary, William Hague.

WILLIAM HAGUE: Some countries have resisted the idea of a transition because they have seen no alternative to Assad's leadership. Well, now the world can see that there is an alternative and I urge all countries, including Russia and China, to work with us to end the conflict.

BARNEY PORTER: Richard Haas is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations.

He's told the BBC there won't be an immediate consequence of the recognition.

RICHARD HAAS: It doesn't affect the balance on the battlefield, but that said, the balance in the battlefield seems to be moving their way. Not as quickly as people would like but all things being equal, things are finally moving in their direction and against the Assad regime.

BARNEY PORTER: The Coalition's reaction is also tempered.

Spokesman, Yasser Tabbara.

YASSER TABBARA: Well it's a very significant first step but it is a first step. What we're looking for is a recognition with teeth, we're looking for recognition which support tangible results.

BARNEY PORTER: For the coalition, tangible results translates as arms and equipment for the rebels, but there are increasing signs of Western unease at the rise of militant Islamists within the rebel ranks.

Prominent among them is the Nusra Front which has recently enjoyed significant battlefield success.

The US has designated the Nusra Front as a foreign terrorist organisation, and says it's trying to hijack the revolt on behalf of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

William Burns is the US undersecretary of state.

WILLIAM BURNS: We also look to the coalition to stand firm against extremists who would hijack the resistance for their own ends or to sow division among Syria's communities. Human rights abuses cannot be tolerated no matter who commits them. They will only weaken the Syria that you hope to inherit.

BARNEY PORTER: The head of the National Coalition, the moderate Islamist cleric Mouaz al-Khatib, has urged the US to review its blacklisting of jihadist rebels.

Richard Haas again.

RICHARD HAAS: Civil wars rarely bring to the fore the sorts of people who are quiet intellectuals. Street fighters and the rest tend to do best, people who are the most ideological motivated so the longer this goes on it shouldn't surprise anybody that the most dynamic element if you will of the opposition is also the most radical.

BARNEY PORTER: The meeting took place as reports emerged that the Assad forces had been using Scud missiles and incendiary bombs, containing white phosphorous and napalm, on populated areas.

White House spokesman, Jay Carney.

JAY CARNEY: If true, this would be the latest desperate act from a regime that has shown utter disregard for innocent life, utter disregard for the lives of its own citizens.

BARNEY PORTER: Mark Perry is a military and foreign policy analyst and author.

He's told Al Jazeera he believes the reports are credible and therefore mark a significant development in the conflict.

MARK PERRY: The salient point of using Scud missiles is that they're unmanned which may be an indication that the Assad regime can no longer use its helicopters or its jets, which means that the regime is backed up against the wall, that it has run out of pilots or jets and helicopters and that we're close to an end. We can all hope that's the case. It's not certain that it's the case but this is a pretty desperate measure. It's an escalation, it shows that this conflict is deepening but perhaps reaching the end.

BARNEY PORTER: The rebels now hold a near continuous arc of territory from the east to the southwest of the capital, but with winter conditions deteriorating rapidly, Damascus residents face power and food crises.